Marine Facilities Group specialists are pleased to share with you this information on safety basics for marina off season preparation. These six check-points may help you identify and reduce the likelihood of an incident that could impact your income and damage your reputation.
Haul Out and Storage Safety Checklist for Marinas and Yacht Clubs
General Safety is #1
- Mobile Boat Hoists and Marine Forklifts: operators should be experienced and certified through a program that meets OSHA requirements
- Federal, state or local requirements: check and determine applicability
- Develop standard operating procedures for hauling out and storing boats
- Yards and storage areas: keep neat and clear of obstructions
- Transport boats: as close to ground as possible
Mobile Boat Hoists
- Know the hoist
- Conduct daily inspection to ensure that vehicle is road worthy and safe to operate
- Cables: check for damage; run out to fully inspect
- Slings: discard if damaged or if one or more red tracer threads are visible
- Protect slings from chafing
- Sling attachment points: check that pins are not bent
- Hydraulics: check hose and fluid level
- Bolts: check that none are loose
- Tires: check condition and pressure
- Controls/instruments: check for working condition
- Fluid levels: check levels and examine for leaks
- Beware of surroundings: clear path, no overhead obstacles
- Use a spotter
- Slings: set at sling marks—not on underwater appendages
- Use safety lines on slings to prevent sliding
- Load balanced and within capacity
- Annual inspection/certification current
Marine Fork Lifts
- Conduct daily inspection to ensure that vehicle is road worthy and safe to operate
- Forks: inspect covers
- Hydraulics: check hose and fluid level
- Tires: check condition and pressure
- Controls/instruments: check for working condition
- Fluid levels: check levels and examine for leaks
- Carriage and mast marked: aligned to prevent damage
- Line up square when picking boat
- Load balanced and within capacity
- Watch for trim tabs, transducers, speedometers
- Lift at the flattest section of hull
- Never have anyone aboard
- Check swing clearance: use spotter
- Fire extinguisher: mounted on forklift
- Use seatbelt
- Check wheel stops at launch site for condition and stability. Do not rely on the bulkhead wheel stops to control the forklift’s movement.
Self Propelled Trailers
- Conduct daily inspection to ensure that vehicle is road worthy and safe to operate
- Hydraulics: check hose and fluid level
- Tires: check condition and pressure
- Controls/instruments: check for working condition
- Boat is positioned squarely on trailer: re-launch if necessary
Blocking
- Support keel on sturdy blocks
- Tripod jack stands: at least two on each side for support only
- Placement of jack stands: at structural bulkheads
- Support jack stand bases: with plywood to prevent sinking
- Safety chains: under keel to opposite jack stand
- No cinder block or oil drums
- Allow drainage of rain water through scuppers or deck drains
Rack Storage
- Remove drain plugs
- Fuel tank valves closed
- Batteries disconnected or master battery switch turned off
- Portable power cords prohibited
- Charging of batteries prohibited
- Repairs of boats in racks prohibited
- No unattended portable heaters
- No open flame heaters
- Use of gasoline or flammable solvent cleaners prohibited
- Remove hazardous materials: including LPG and CNG cylinders, portable fuel tanks, reserve supplies of stove alcohol, kerosene and charcoal
- Fill permanently installed fuel tanks: at least 95% full
ACE USA, through its operating companies, is a leading provider of property, casualty, and accident and health insurance, as well as financial products and risk management services. To learn more about ACE Marine Facilities insurance products for commercial marinas and yacht clubs, please visit www.acemarineinsurance.com or contact Kim Finlay at[email protected].